Opinion: Letter to the Editor: Human Services And Privacy

I am writing concerning the consolidation of the offices of the Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services into one public facility. Given the personal nature of the work done by the department, the city has a responsibility to assure the public that personal information of Alexandria citizens is held confidential in the new workplace setting.

For example, the staff will need work stations that provide complete privacy so that sensitive staff conversations about such things as child sexual abuse, prosecutions, and HIPPA-protected information are not overhead by others who do not have an official need to know.

I hope the city will follow their commitment to public engagement by sharing information on the new facility design with the citizens and accept public comment before finalizing the plan.